Adelaide United’s youth squad want to cap junior campaign with league win

ADELAIDE United’s young guns say victory in Saturday’s National Youth League grand final will be a fitting way to sign off on their junior careers together.

20/01/2016 Adelaide United - National Youth League team in then grand final against Sydney FC L-R Adam Piscioneri, Ruon Tongyik and Dylan Smith. Pic Mark Brake

ADELAIDE United’s young guns say victory in Saturday’s National Youth League grand final will be a fitting way to sign off on their junior careers together.

Playmaker Dylan Smith, centre back Ruon Tongyik and defensive midfielder Adam Piscioneri will line up for the Reds against Sydney in the underage decider in Gosford.

The trio is hungry for more silverware after leading the club to last year’s State League title in its debut season in the local competition.

“We know Sydney are a good side but hopefully we can go out there and get the win,” Smith, 19, says.

“We’ve been together for a couple of years now so it would be amazing to walk away with that trophy.”

The young Reds finished three points clear of Brisbane Roar at the top of NYL Conference A.

The Sky Blues clash will be coach Michael Valkanis’ final game at the helm before stepping aside to concentrate on first team assistant duties.

It will also be much of the squad’s last at junior level with a fresh batch of youngsters expected at United this winter under newly-appointed head of youth development Mark Jones.

“We did well (last year) in the State League and from there we had confidence,” says Adelaide Olympic product Tongyik.

“It was a big advantage because we know how to play with each other and we know the system well.

“This is our last time playing together as a team so we want to go out there and give it all we’ve got.”

The Reds’ last NYL grand final ended in a 2-0 loss to Sydney in 2008/09.

A bumper crowd is expected at Central Coast Stadium with the decider a curtain-raiser to the Mariners v Western Sydney A-League match featuring the debut of ex-Liverpool and Spain star Luis Garcia.

“It’s a grand final so we go there to win,” Piscioneri, 19, says.

“Our team has probably been the most consistent in terms of the players we’ve put on the field

so we’re going in with confidence.”

The NYL grand final will be televised live on Fox Sports at 3.30pm.

Originally published as Adelaide United’s youth squad want to cap junior campaign with league win